What does this type of digital argument look like in practice?
What constitutes a claim, evidence, warrant, and attention to rebuttal in this form of argument?
What is an Infographic?
Infographics have become an increasingly popular means of expressing information and making arguments.
Infographics are a steady part of the content readers consume online.
Understanding the design features of infographics can help students to read deeply and uncover bias.
In addition, because infographics present data—numerical, written, and visual—they can be a powerful medium for making arguments, and we think they are a mode worth teaching.
What are the Characteristics and Content of an Infographic?
At their core, infographics are a combination of words, numbers, and visual elements. Yet this description oversimplifies the way that writers think about composing this type of digital text. In reviewing a number of examples as well as articles about what constitutes effective infographics, a few key themes stood out to us.
As always, teaching digital genres and modes is not about tools. We do not want students simply to read and write infographics; rather, we want them to read and write the arguments that infographics present to the world. Because infographics require students to do content-rich research and to take a position on an issue, they are well-suited for interdisciplinary inquiry.
Chapter 4: The Moves of Argument in Infographics
What is an Infographic?
What are the Characteristics and Content of an Infographic?
At their core, infographics are a combination of words, numbers, and visual elements. Yet this description oversimplifies the way that writers think about composing this type of digital text. In reviewing a number of examples as well as articles about what constitutes effective infographics, a few key themes stood out to us.Taking it to the Classroom: Infographics
As always, teaching digital genres and modes is not about tools. We do not want students simply to read and write infographics; rather, we want them to read and write the arguments that infographics present to the world. Because infographics require students to do content-rich research and to take a position on an issue, they are well-suited for interdisciplinary inquiry.Resources from the Chapter
Additional Resources
For more resources on teaching digital writing, please check out Troy's blog "Digital Writing, Digital Teaching" and resources on his wiki page. Additionally, check out the companion wiki for the books The Digital Writing Workshop and Crafting Digital Writing. For resources on Connected Reading, check out the companion wiki for the book Connected Reading: Teaching Adolescent Readers in a Digital World.